wbrian63
Well-known member
Admins - if this is not the right section for this posting, feel free to move it.
Caveat emptor regarding Home Depot, folks.
We have several sheets of 7/16" OSB remaining from our purchases for the workshop build out. Last batch was bought about 30 days ago at $13.97/sheet. Noticed last weekend that the price had dropped back to $8.47.
HD has a 90-day return policy and it is clearly printed on each receipt.
HD also uses the standard thermal paper for receipts. You know the kind - shiny with clear black lettering, that if left in a hot vehicle (the only kind of vehicle that exists in Houston, TX during this time of year) goes completely blank within about 48 hours. Even leaving a receipt like this in one's wallet will result in a blank receipt after a few weeks of exposure to body heat.
My solution? Make a photo-copy of the receipt.
One advantage to this method is that it allows me to make notations on the copied image as to "what was what" and "what what was for", as the item descriptions can be cryptic.
So, this weekend, with the sheathing task complete, we loaded up 10 sheets of unused as-purchased-condition OSB and headed for Home Depot.
Here's how the process went, more-or-less.
HDRD (Home Depot Returns Clerk): I'm sorry sir, we can't accept a photo-copy receipt.
WBF: Really? Call the MOD (manager on duty), please.
HDMOD: That's company policy. You have to have the original receipt for returns.
WBF: Really? You mean the receipt, that if left in my car since the date of this purchase would now be completely blank?
HDMOD: Yes sir.
WBF: And the logic behind this 'policy' is???
HDMOD: We've had some trouble in the past with people attempting to scam the company with bogus returns.
WBF: (Ignoring the insult cast my direction) I'm none of those people - I paid good money for a product that I do not need that is being returned in completely sellable condition and I want my money back.
HDMOD visibly stiffens at this point.
Alternate HDRC: Sir, do you have the CC that you made the original purchase with on you?
WBF: Yes, why?
AHDRC: We can scan the CC and it will verify that the item was purchased and we can refund the money that way.
WBF: Cool - here you go.
HDMOD walks away.
AHDRC: OK sir - your credit is $91.69.
WBF: Well, something's not right, as I paid $151.23 for the OSB.
AHDRC: That's because without a receipt (which she's holding in her hand - just used it to key in the item # being returned), the system refunds the current price, which is $8.47.
WBF: Well, I DO have a receipt, and I paid $13.97/sheet for the OSB, and I want $13.97/sheet back in refund.
At this point I remembered a situation where I was returning some lumber at another store and the item # on the receipt wasn't readable. The HDRC used a special screen on the terminal to enter the unique receipt ID, and then chose the item I was returning from the list of items presented. (Note that this was also using a photo-copied receipt - just a different HD store.).
WBF: Can't you key in the receipt number and pick the item from the list on that receipt?
HDRC: Yes, but I have to have Manager approval to do that.
WBF:
- whatever you have to do. The price difference is $55.00+tax.
HDMOD returns: OK - what's the problem now.
RC's explain the problem. HDMOD glares at me and OK's the process.
I get my money credited back to my CC and I'm good to go. I thank the RC's for their efforts on my behalf and leave.
Thought briefly about seeking out the HDMOD and wacking him in the head to teach him some manners, but decided that was likely a lost cause.
In general, any time I've dealt directly with HD management, if it's the actual store manager, not an assistant, everything goes smoothly. To a man/woman, they've been courteous and professional. Any time I'm faced with an assistant, they end up being a Little Napoleon/ette and I end up getting pissed and leaving, later to return and get what I need from the "real" manager.
What I don't get is the times I've returned product and had the receipt in-hand, they scan the bar code at the bottom of the receipt. That code has the original purchase store # and other information. Comparing receipts, the numbering seems to be unique. When the receipt is scanned, the entire list of items purchased shows up on the screen. The clerk just chooses the line being returned and adjusts/accepts quantity as required.
Being an IT person by trade, if that process doesn't post the details of that transaction (items being returned to inventory) and indicate internally that those items have been returned, I'd be very surprised. That process, by definition should alter the original transaction to note the returns, blocking any attempt to return something more than once.
I understand that all HD's likely aren't connected real-time to each other, but more likely to a central data processing center that uses a nightly cycle to update inventory counts, purchase history, etc. So, in theory, it would be possible for someone to use the same receipt at multiple HD's to return stolen product.
However, in this case, I'm returning product to the same store from which it was purchased. Further, the items were purchased about 30 days ago, more than enough time for the purchase information to be distributed to all HD stores.
The clerks seem to be under the impression that they can't scan the receipt since it's not on shiny thermal paper. A bar code is a purely visible image - the media it's printed on doesn't matter.
I've got some more stuff to return, all of which is documented on photo-copied receipts. I'm thinking about finding the store manager of the location I frequent and dealing with him directly to get the returns made.
The gotcha in all of this is that the receipts clearly state "Home Depot reserves the right to refuse / limit returns. For further information, please see the returns policy posted in the store." I wonder if it says anything about needing the original receipt???
Sorry for the long post - still thought GJ members would like to know.
Caveat emptor regarding Home Depot, folks.
We have several sheets of 7/16" OSB remaining from our purchases for the workshop build out. Last batch was bought about 30 days ago at $13.97/sheet. Noticed last weekend that the price had dropped back to $8.47.
HD has a 90-day return policy and it is clearly printed on each receipt.
HD also uses the standard thermal paper for receipts. You know the kind - shiny with clear black lettering, that if left in a hot vehicle (the only kind of vehicle that exists in Houston, TX during this time of year) goes completely blank within about 48 hours. Even leaving a receipt like this in one's wallet will result in a blank receipt after a few weeks of exposure to body heat.
My solution? Make a photo-copy of the receipt.
One advantage to this method is that it allows me to make notations on the copied image as to "what was what" and "what what was for", as the item descriptions can be cryptic.
So, this weekend, with the sheathing task complete, we loaded up 10 sheets of unused as-purchased-condition OSB and headed for Home Depot.
Here's how the process went, more-or-less.
HDRD (Home Depot Returns Clerk): I'm sorry sir, we can't accept a photo-copy receipt.
WBF: Really? Call the MOD (manager on duty), please.
HDMOD: That's company policy. You have to have the original receipt for returns.
WBF: Really? You mean the receipt, that if left in my car since the date of this purchase would now be completely blank?
HDMOD: Yes sir.
WBF: And the logic behind this 'policy' is???
HDMOD: We've had some trouble in the past with people attempting to scam the company with bogus returns.
WBF: (Ignoring the insult cast my direction) I'm none of those people - I paid good money for a product that I do not need that is being returned in completely sellable condition and I want my money back.
HDMOD visibly stiffens at this point.
Alternate HDRC: Sir, do you have the CC that you made the original purchase with on you?
WBF: Yes, why?
AHDRC: We can scan the CC and it will verify that the item was purchased and we can refund the money that way.
WBF: Cool - here you go.
HDMOD walks away.
AHDRC: OK sir - your credit is $91.69.
WBF: Well, something's not right, as I paid $151.23 for the OSB.
AHDRC: That's because without a receipt (which she's holding in her hand - just used it to key in the item # being returned), the system refunds the current price, which is $8.47.
WBF: Well, I DO have a receipt, and I paid $13.97/sheet for the OSB, and I want $13.97/sheet back in refund.
At this point I remembered a situation where I was returning some lumber at another store and the item # on the receipt wasn't readable. The HDRC used a special screen on the terminal to enter the unique receipt ID, and then chose the item I was returning from the list of items presented. (Note that this was also using a photo-copied receipt - just a different HD store.).
WBF: Can't you key in the receipt number and pick the item from the list on that receipt?
HDRC: Yes, but I have to have Manager approval to do that.
WBF:
- whatever you have to do. The price difference is $55.00+tax.HDMOD returns: OK - what's the problem now.
RC's explain the problem. HDMOD glares at me and OK's the process.
I get my money credited back to my CC and I'm good to go. I thank the RC's for their efforts on my behalf and leave.
Thought briefly about seeking out the HDMOD and wacking him in the head to teach him some manners, but decided that was likely a lost cause.
In general, any time I've dealt directly with HD management, if it's the actual store manager, not an assistant, everything goes smoothly. To a man/woman, they've been courteous and professional. Any time I'm faced with an assistant, they end up being a Little Napoleon/ette and I end up getting pissed and leaving, later to return and get what I need from the "real" manager.
What I don't get is the times I've returned product and had the receipt in-hand, they scan the bar code at the bottom of the receipt. That code has the original purchase store # and other information. Comparing receipts, the numbering seems to be unique. When the receipt is scanned, the entire list of items purchased shows up on the screen. The clerk just chooses the line being returned and adjusts/accepts quantity as required.
Being an IT person by trade, if that process doesn't post the details of that transaction (items being returned to inventory) and indicate internally that those items have been returned, I'd be very surprised. That process, by definition should alter the original transaction to note the returns, blocking any attempt to return something more than once.
I understand that all HD's likely aren't connected real-time to each other, but more likely to a central data processing center that uses a nightly cycle to update inventory counts, purchase history, etc. So, in theory, it would be possible for someone to use the same receipt at multiple HD's to return stolen product.
However, in this case, I'm returning product to the same store from which it was purchased. Further, the items were purchased about 30 days ago, more than enough time for the purchase information to be distributed to all HD stores.
The clerks seem to be under the impression that they can't scan the receipt since it's not on shiny thermal paper. A bar code is a purely visible image - the media it's printed on doesn't matter.
I've got some more stuff to return, all of which is documented on photo-copied receipts. I'm thinking about finding the store manager of the location I frequent and dealing with him directly to get the returns made.
The gotcha in all of this is that the receipts clearly state "Home Depot reserves the right to refuse / limit returns. For further information, please see the returns policy posted in the store." I wonder if it says anything about needing the original receipt???
Sorry for the long post - still thought GJ members would like to know.
